Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-17


various groups a the left. 1t is very
doubtful that theviwill succeed in doing
this, but the seledtion Of them secures
the passage Of the budget, which
is the most important work
at present before the govern
ment. Thus the hope that France
! would be for q considerable time secure
against a recurrence OF any serious
crisis has given place to an apprehen
sion that further difficulties may have
| to be met in the near future. The situ-
alton more forcibly suggests the neces-
| sity for material notifications of the
| French constitution before the republic
can get onto safe ground.
~
| There have been no new developments
| concerning the Russian war scare which,
| however, has by no means been dssi-
pated, and is still Il prominent subject
of European interest. The Russian
newspapers, while using no men acing
language, defend the course of the gov
ernment in its late military movements
in Poland, on the ground that
the tactics of Austria were be-
| lieved to be of an offensive char
acter. The newspapers, however,
point out with some reason that the eve
of winter is hardly the time customarily
chosen for beginning campaign. 1t
might be responded that it is, neverthe-
lesA as good time for Russian soldiers
as for Austrian, and some of the former
might find less trouble in camping in
the snow. But tho real reason for not
apprehending hostilities at this time is
that no quarrel exists between
Austria and Russia which could
be made cause of war off
hand. Germany and Italy would
certainly never stand by and see Galicia
invaded without even the pretense of q
grievances; and France is in no cOndi-
tion now to be relied upon by Russia at
an hours notice. 1t is true that Austria
and Russia take conflicting views upon
the Balkan business, but Russia would
have much to do before coming to blows
on that subject. That she means to
adopt a decisive policy in Bulgaria, and
in anticipation is strengthening her de-
fenses on the Austrian frontier, is prob
able enough.
Nv
Austria, with her present supply of
Mannlicher magazine guns, is in much
better shape for undertaking a cam
paign than ever before. She is also
better prepared from having followed
within the last few years the example
of her neighbors in the organization of
her reserves and militia. Exclusive of
the landsturm, her army, which on a
peace footing amounts to 276, ,4a6 men, is
increased in war to l,043,630. The
forces of AustrM and Germany COM
bined are about equal to those of Russia,
but their power of speedy mobili-
zation is greatsr, as is also that
of their concehkration by means of
railroads, and, above all, their infantry
arms. Russia has prejudice against
all ordinary magazine guns, although
she now admits the great possibilities
of the new small, bore, with its COM
pressed powder and steel-cased bullet.
The three classes OF militia which can
be added to the sAustro Hungarian
army number more than million men,
|
be assigned to home and garrison duty.
With the present excitement over pos
sible dangers with Russia there will be
less difficulty in procuring legislation
for improving and arming the lands
turn.
~.
Prince Oscar Charles Augustus, Duke
of Gothland, second son Of King Oscar
of Sweden, who is now said to be ac-
in place of Prince Ferdinand, is little
more than twenty-eight years old, hav-
ing been born November Is, 1859. His
nomination looks like fruit of the
cars recent visit to his Scandinavian
neighbors. The suggestion might per-
haps have been 1avorably enough re-
ccived also by the Bulgarians
if made at the proper season;
but the czar has hitherto been in
tent on impossible candidates like the
Prince of Mingrelia; even Prince Wal
demar of Denmark apparently failed to
find favor with him. Now that Bull
garia, in lack of reasonable candidates
from Russian and other sources, has
Prince Ferdinand on the throne, she
may object to putting him off again in
; favor of Prince Oscar, if the latter be
.. really thought Of. Prince Ferdinand
.. himself may also object to abdicating:
but that would be less of practical diff.
, ficulty, and, indeed, he has already
, , reigned quite as long as many people
expected him to.
Nv
The effort of M. de Lesseps to Sc
cure the privilege of issuing a lot
, terry loan to obtain more money for the
Panama canal encounters serious diff.
ficulties. Not the least of these is a
very severe attack on the scheme by
a M. Leroy-Beaulieu, in whic he
! charges De Lesseps with lying. He
! shows that Lesseps, in his official com
i, munication to the government asking
o for the lottery privilege, understated
4 the present liabilities of his company
!, by the large sum of l24 900 900 francs